Monday, February 14, 2011

Miami Dolphins 2010 Position Grades: Linebacker

Perhaps at no position was the Miami Dolphins' youth movement more
prevalent than linebacker, where the team ditched veterans Akin Ayodele
and Reggie Torbor and let free agents Joey Porter and Jason Taylor walk
in the 2010 offseason.

Step into significant roles at outside
linebacker were second-year CFL import Cameron Wake and second-round
rookie Koa Misi. The team also drafted two linebackers—Chris McCoy and
Austin Spitler—in the seventh round of the draft.

In free agency,
former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby was the Dolphins'
most prized acquisition, signed to a five-year, $43 million contract
with $22 million guaranteed.

Despite the dip in starting
experience among the Dolphins' top four linebackers, the team's defense
shot to the top 10 of the league thanks to the arrival of defensive
coordinator Mike Nolan, continued dominance by the defense line, and the
emergence of Wake as one of the NFL's best pass rushers.

So how did the Dolphins' linebackers grade out individually? Continue on to find out...